Wheat variety HAW12-156

ABSTRACT

A wheat variety designated HAW12-156, the plants and seeds of wheat variety HAW12-156, methods for producing a wheat plant produced by crossing the variety HAW12-156 with another wheat plant, and hybrid wheat seeds and plants produced by crossing the variety HAW12-156 with another wheat line or plant, and the creation of variants by backcrossing, mutagenesis or transformation of variety HAW12-156 are disclosed. Methods for producing other wheat varieties or breeding lines derived from wheat variety HAW12-156 and to wheat varieties or breeding lines produced by those methods are also provided.

BACKGROUND

All publications cited in this application are herein incorporated by reference.

There are numerous steps in the development of any novel, desirable plant germplasm. Plant breeding begins with the analysis and definition of problems and weaknesses of the current germplasm, the establishment of program goals, and the definition of specific breeding objectives. The next step is selection of germplasm that possesses the traits to meet the program goals. The goal is to combine in a single variety an improved combination of desirable traits from the parental germplasm. These important traits may include higher seed yield, resistance to diseases and insects, better stems and roots, tolerance to drought and heat, better agronomic quality, and resistance to herbicides, and improvements in compositional traits. The reasons for this goal are to maximize the amount of grain produced on the land used and to supply food for both animals and humans. To accomplish this goal, the breeder must select and develop wheat plants that have traits that result in superior varieties.

Wheat may be classified into six different market classes. Five of these, including common wheat, hard red winter, hard red spring, soft red winter, and white, belong to the species Triticum aestivum L., and the sixth, durum, belongs to the species Triticum turgidum L. Wheat may be used to produce a variety of products, including, but not limited to, grain, flour, baked goods, cereals, crackers, pasta, beverages, livestock feed, biofuel, straw, construction materials, and starches. The hard wheat classes are milled into flour used for breads, while the soft wheat classes are milled into flour used for pastries and crackers. Wheat starch is used in the food and paper industries as laundry starches, among other products.

The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations related therewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon a reading of the specification.

SUMMARY

It is to be understood that the embodiments include a variety of different versions or embodiments, and this Summary is not meant to be limiting or all-inclusive. This Summary provides some general descriptions of some of the embodiments, but may also include some more specific descriptions of other embodiments.

One embodiment relates to seed of the wheat cultivar HAW12-156. Another embodiment also relates to plants produced by growing the seed of the wheat cultivar HAW12-156, as well as the derivatives of such plants. Further provided are plant parts, including cells, plant protoplasts, cells of a tissue culture from which wheat plants can be regenerated, plant calli, plant clumps, and cells that are intact in plants or parts of plants, such as leaves, stems, roots, root tips, anthers, pistils, seed, grain, pericarp, ear, glume, embryo, pollen, ovules, cotyledon, hypocotyl, spike, floret, awn, lemma, shoot, tissue, petiole, cells, and meristematic cells, and the like. The ear is the grain-bearing tip part of the stem of a cereal plant, such as wheat or maize. All such embodiments comprise the seed of the wheat cultivar HAW12-156, plants or parts thereof as well as seed, plants and plants parts thereof having one or more or all of the physiological and morphological characteristics of wheat cultivar HAW12-156 listed in Table 1 including but not limited to as determined at the 5% significance level when grown in the same environmental conditions, and/or having all the physiological and morphological characteristics of wheat cultivar HAW12-156 listed in Table 1 including but not limited to as determined at the 5% significance level when grown in the same environmental conditions and/or having all the physiological and morphological characteristics of wheat cultivar HAW12-156 listed in Table 1 when grown in the same environmental conditions. The embodiments also relate to variants, mutants and modifications of the seed or plant or plant parts of wheat cultivar HAW12-156.

Another embodiment provides for a composition comprising a seed of wheat cultivar HAW12-156 comprised in plant seed growth media. In another embodiment, the plant seed growth media is a soil or synthetic cultivation medium. In another embodiment, the growth medium may be comprised in a container or may, for example, be soil in a field. Plant seed growth media are well known to those of skill in the art and include, but are in no way limited to, soil or synthetic cultivation medium. Plant seed growth media can provide adequate physical support for seeds and can retain moisture and/or nutritional components. Another embodiment relates to a regenerable cell and tissue culture of regenerable cells of the wheat variety HAW12-156, as well as plants regenerated therefrom, wherein the regenerated wheat plant is capable of expressing all the morphological and physiological characteristics of a plant grown from the wheat seed designated HAW12-156. In one embodiment, the regenerated plants have the characteristics of wheat cultivar HAW12-156 listed in Table 1 including but not limited to as determined at the 5% significance level when grown in the same environmental conditions. In some embodiments, the plant parts and cells used to produce such tissue cultures will be embryos, meristematic cells, seeds, callus, pollen, leaves, anthers, pistils, roots, root tips, stems, petioles, cotyledons, hypocotyls, ovaries, seed coat, fruits, endosperm, flowers, axillary buds or the like. Protoplasts produced from such tissue culture are also included in the present embodiments. In some embodiments, the whole plants regenerated from the tissue culture have one, more than one, or all of the physiological and morphological characteristics of wheat cultivar HAW12-156 listed in Table 1, including but not limited to as determined at the 5% significance level when grown in the same environmental conditions.

The plants and seeds of the present embodiments include those that may be of an essentially derived variety (EDV) as defined in section 41(3) of the Plant Variety Protection Act of United States of America, e., a variety that is predominantly derived from wheat cultivar HAW12-156 or from a variety that i) is predominantly derived from wheat cultivar HAW12-156, while retaining the expression of the essential characteristics that result from the genotype or combination of genotypes of wheat cultivar HAW12-156; ii) is clearly distinguishable from wheat cultivar HAW12-156; and iii) except for differences that result from the act of derivation, conforms to the initial variety in the expression of the essential characteristics that result from the genotype or combination of genotypes of the initial variety or cultivar.

One or more embodiments also disclose methods for vegetatively propagating a plant wheat cultivar HAW12-156. In one embodiment, vegetatively propagating can be interchangeably used with vegetative reproduction. In some embodiments, the methods comprise collecting a part of a wheat cultivar HAW12-156 and regenerating a plant from said part. In some embodiments, the part can be for example a leaf cutting that is rooted into an appropriate medium according to techniques known by the one skilled in the art. Plants, plant parts and seeds thereof produced by such methods are also included in the present embodiments. In another aspect, the plants thereof produced by such methods have all the physiological and morphological characteristics of wheat cultivar HAW12-156 listed in Table 1, including but not limited to as determined at the 5% significance level when grown in the same environmental conditions. In some embodiments, plants produced by such methods consist of one, more than one, or all physiological and morphological characteristics of wheat cultivar HAW12-156 listed in Table 1, including but not limited to as determined at the 5% significance level when grown in the same environmental conditions.

Another embodiment provides for methods of introducing or modifying one or more desired trait(s) into the wheat cultivar HAW12-156 and plants or seeds obtained from such methods. One embodiment is a wheat plant of the wheat variety HAW12-156 further comprising a single locus conversion. In one embodiment, the wheat plant is defined as comprising the single locus conversion and otherwise capable of expressing all of the morphological and physiological characteristics of the wheat variety HAW12-156 listed in Table 1, including but not limited to as determined at the 5% significance level when grown in the same environmental conditions. In some embodiments, the single locus conversion may comprise a transgenic gene which has been introduced by genetic transformation into the wheat variety HAW12-156 or a progenitor thereof. In still other embodiments, the single locus conversion may comprise a dominant or recessive gene or allele. In still other embodiments, the single locus conversion may comprise one or more genes. The gene or genes may be naturally occurring wheat gene(s), mutant(s) or genes modified through the use of New Breeding Techniques. In some embodiments, the method for introducing the desired trait(s) is a backcrossing process making use of a series of backcrosses to wheat cultivar HAW12-156 during which the desired trait(s) is maintained by selection. The single gene or locus conversion plants that can be obtained by the method are included in some embodiments. The locus conversion may confer potentially any trait upon the single locus converted plant, including, but not limited to, herbicide resistance, insect resistance, resistance to bacterial, fungal, or viral disease, male fertility or sterility, and improved nutritional quality.

Another embodiment provides for a seed that produces a plant, wherein said plant is plant of wheat variety HAW12-156, further comprising a single locus conversion, wherein a representative sample of seed of wheat variety HAW12-156 has been deposited with NCIMB, and wherein the single locus conversion confers tolerance to an herbicide selected from the group consisting of glyphosate, sulfonylurea, imidazolinone, dicamba, glufosinate, phenoxy propionic acid, L-phosphinothricin, cyclohexanone, cyclohexanedione, triazine, and benzonitrile.

Another embodiment provides for a seed that produces a plant, wherein said plant is plant of wheat variety HAW12-156, further comprising a single locus conversion, wherein a representative sample of seed of wheat variety HAW12-156 has been deposited with NCIMB, wherein the single locus conversion further comprises a gene encoding a protein selected from the group consisting of glutenins, gliadins, phytase, fructosyltransferase, levansucrase, alpha-amylase, invertase and starch branching enzyme or encoding an antisense of stearyl-ACP desaturase.

Another embodiment provides for a method of producing wheat seed, wherein the method comprises crossing the plant of wheat variety HAW12-156 with itself or a second wheat plant. A further embodiment provides for wherein the method is further defined as comprising crossing the plant of wheat variety HAW12-156 with a second, distinct wheat plant to produce an F₁ hybrid wheat seed. A further embodiment provides for wherein the method further comprises: (a) crossing a plant grown from said F₁ hybrid wheat seed with itself or a different wheat plant to produce a seed of a progeny plant of a subsequent generation; (b) growing a progeny plant of a subsequent generation from said seed of a progeny plant of a subsequent generation and crossing the progeny plant of a subsequent generation with itself or a second plant to produce a progeny plant of a further subsequent generation; and (c) repeating steps (a) and (b) using said progeny plant of a further subsequent generation from step (b) in place of the plant grown from said F₁ hybrid wheat seed in step (a), wherein steps (a) and (b) are repeated with sufficient inbreeding to produce an inbred wheat plant derived from the wheat variety HAW12-156.

When dealing with a gene that has been modified, for example through New Breeding Techniques, the trait or genetic modification could be directly modified or transferred into the newly developed line/cultivar such as wheat cultivar HAW12-156. Alternatively, if the trait or genetic modification is not modified or transferred into each newly developed line/cultivar such as wheat cultivar HAW12-156, another typical method used by breeders of ordinary skill in the art to incorporate a modified gene is to take a line already carrying the modified gene and to use such line as a donor line to transfer a modified gene into the newly developed line or another line. The same would apply for a naturally occurring trait, for one arising from spontaneous or induced mutations or for a transgene.

In some embodiments, the backcross breeding process of wheat cultivar HAW12-156 comprises (a) crossing wheat cultivar HAW12-156 with plants that comprise the desired trait(s) to produce F₁ progeny plants. In some embodiments, the process further comprises (b) selecting the F₁ progeny plants that have the desired trait(s); In some embodiments, the process further comprises (c) crossing the selected F₁ progeny plants with the wheat cultivar HAW12-156 plants to produce backcross progeny plants; In some embodiments, the process further comprises (d) selecting for backcross progeny plants that have the desired trait(s) and physiological and morphological characteristics of the wheat cultivar HAW12-156 to produce selected backcross progeny plants; In some embodiments, the process further comprises (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) one, two, three, four, five six, seven, eight, nine or more times in succession to produce selected, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth or higher backcross progeny plants that have the desired trait(s) and consist essentially of all the physiological and morphological characteristics of the wheat cultivar HAW12-156, and/or have the desired trait(s) and all the physiological and morphological characteristics of the wheat cultivar HAW12-156, and/or have the desired trait(s) and the physiological and morphological characteristics of the wheat cultivar HAW12-156 as determined in Table 1, including but not limited to when grown in the same environmental conditions or including but not limited to at a 5% significance level when grown in the same environmental conditions. The wheat plants, plant parts, and seeds produced by the methods are also included herein. Backcrossing breeding methods, well known to one skilled in the art of plant breeding will be further developed in subsequent parts of the specification.

Another embodiment is a method of making a backcross conversion of wheat cultivar HAW12-156. In some embodiments, the method comprises crossing wheat cultivar HAW12-156 with a donor plant that may comprise a transgene, a mutant gene(s), a naturally occurring gene(s) or a gene(s) and/or sequences modified through New Breeding Techniques conferring one or more desired traits to produce F₁ progeny plants. In some embodiments, the method further comprises selecting the F₁ progeny plant comprising the naturally occurring gene(s) mutant gene(s) or modified gene(s) and/or sequences conferring the one or more desired trait. In some embodiments, the method further comprises backcrossing the selected progeny plant to the wheat cultivar HAW12-156. This method may further comprise the step of obtaining a molecular marker profile of the wheat cultivar HAW12-156 and using the molecular marker profile to select for the progeny plant with the desired trait and the molecular marker profile of the wheat cultivar HAW12-156. The plants and parts thereof produced by such methods are also part of the embodiments.

In some embodiments, the number of loci that may be backcrossed into the wheat cultivar HAW12-156 is at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or more. A single locus may contain several genes. A single locus conversion also allows for making one or more site specific changes to the plant genome, such as, without limitation, one or more nucleotide change, deletion, insertions, etc. In some embodiments, the single locus conversion is performed by genome editing, a.k.a. genome editing with engineered nucleases (GEEN). In some embodiments, the genome editing comprises using one or more engineered nucleases. In some embodiments, the engineered nucleases include, but are not limited to Zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs), Transcription Activator-Like Effector Nucleases (TALENs), the CRISPR/Cas system, and engineered meganuclease re-engineered homing endonucleases, and endonucleases for DNA guided genome editing (Gao et al., Nature Biotechnology (2016), doi: 10.1038/nbt.3547). In some embodiments, the single locus conversion changes one or several nucleotides of the plant genome. Such genome editing techniques are some of the techniques now known by the person skilled in the art and herein are collectively referred to as “New Breeding Techniques”. In some embodiments, one or more above-mentioned genome editing method is directly applied on a plant of one or more embodiments. Accordingly, a cell containing edited genome, or a plant part containing such cell can be isolated and used to regenerate a novel plant which has a new trait conferred by said genome editing, and otherwise all the physiological and morphological characteristics of wheat cultivar HAW12-156.

Another embodiment relates to a first generation, F₁ hybrid wheat seed produced by crossing a plant of the wheat variety HAW12-156 to a second wheat plant. Also included in the embodiments are the F₁ hybrid wheat plants grown from the hybrid seed produced by crossing the wheat variety HAW12-156 to a second wheat plant. Still further included are the seeds of an F₁ hybrid plant produced with the wheat variety HAW12-156 as one parent, the second generation (F₂) hybrid wheat plant grown from the seed of the F₁ hybrid plant, and the seeds of the F₂ hybrid plant.

Another embodiment relates to a method of producing wheat seeds comprising crossing a plant of the wheat variety HAW12-156 to any second wheat plant, including itself or another plant of the variety HAW12-156. In other embodiments, the method of crossing comprises the steps of: (a) planting seeds of the wheat variety HAW12-156; (b) cultivating wheat plants resulting from said seeds until said plants bear flowers; (c) allowing fertilization of the flowers of said plants; and (d) harvesting seeds produced from said plants.

Another embodiment relates to a method of producing hybrid wheat seeds comprising crossing the wheat variety HAW12-156 to a second, distinct wheat plant that is non-isogenic to the wheat variety HAW12-156. In other embodiments, the crossing comprises the steps of: (a) planting seeds of wheat variety HAW12-156 and a second, distinct wheat plant, (b) cultivating the wheat plants grown from the seeds until the plants bear flowers; (c) cross pollinating a flower on one of the two plants with the pollen of the other plant, and (d) harvesting the seeds resulting from the cross-pollinating. In some embodiments, the other plant can be a wheat hybrid or line. When crossed with another, different wheat plant, an F₁ hybrid seed is produced if the different wheat plant is an inbred line and a “three-way cross” seed is produced if the different wheat plant is a hybrid. Such F₁ hybrid seed and three-way hybrid seeds and plants produced by growing said F₁ and three-way hybrid seeds are included in the embodiments. Methods for producing a F₁ and three-way hybrid wheat seed comprising crossing wheat cultivar HAW12-156 plant with a different wheat line or hybrid and harvesting the resultant hybrid wheat are also part of the embodiments. The hybrid wheat seeds produced by the methods comprising crossing wheat cultivar HAW12-156 plant with a different wheat plant and harvesting the resultant hybrid wheat seed are included in the embodiments, as are included the hybrid wheat plants or parts thereof and seeds produced by said grown hybrid wheat plants.

Another embodiment relates to a method for developing a wheat plant in a wheat breeding program comprising: (a) obtaining a wheat plant, or its parts, of the variety HAW12-156; and (b) employing said plant or parts as a source of breeding material using plant breeding techniques. In the method, the plant breeding techniques may be selected from the group comprised of mutagenesis, recurrent selection, mass selection, bulk selection, backcrossing, pedigree breeding, genetic marker-assisted selection and genetic transformation. In other embodiments, the wheat plant of variety HAW12-156 may be used as the male or female parent.

In some embodiments, such methods for producing a wheat plant derived from the wheat cultivar HAW12-156 comprise (a) self-pollinating the wheat cultivar HAW12-156 plant at least once to produce a progeny plant derived from wheat cultivar HAW12-156. In some embodiments, the methods further comprise (b) crossing the progeny plant derived from wheat cultivar HAW12-156 with itself or a wheat plant to produce a seed of a progeny plant of a subsequent generation. In some embodiments, the methods further comprise (c) growing the progeny plant of the subsequent generation. In some embodiments, the method further comprises (d) crossing the progeny plant of the subsequent generation with itself or a second wheat plant to produce a wheat plant further derived from the wheat cultivar HAW12-156. In further embodiments, step (b), step (c) and/or step (d) are repeated for at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or more generation to produce a wheat plant derived from the wheat cultivar HAW12-156. In some embodiments, within each crossing cycle, the second plant is the same plant as the second plant in the last crossing cycle. In some embodiment, within each crossing cycle, the second plant is different from the second plant in the last crossing cycle.

Another embodiment relates to a method of producing a wheat plant derived from the wheat variety HAW12-156, the method comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a progeny plant derived from wheat variety HAW12-156 by crossing a plant of the wheat variety HAW12-156 with a second wheat plant; and (b) crossing the progeny plant with itself or a second plant to produce a progeny plant of a subsequent generation which is derived from a plant of the wheat cultivar HAW12-156. In another embodiment, the method further comprises: (c) crossing the progeny plant of a subsequent generation with itself or a second plant; and (d) repeating steps (b) and (c) for, in some embodiments, at least 2, 3, 4 or more additional generations to produce an inbred wheat plant derived from the wheat variety HAW12-156. Also provided is a plant produced by this and the other embodiments. In some embodiments, within each crossing cycle, the second plant is the same plant as the second plant in the last crossing cycle. In some embodiments, within each crossing cycle, the second plant is different from the second plant in the last crossing cycle.

In another embodiment, the method of producing a wheat plant derived from the wheat variety HAW12-156 further comprises: (a) crossing the wheat variety HAW12-156-derived wheat plant with itself or another wheat plant to yield additional wheat variety HAW12-156-derived progeny wheat seed; (b) growing the progeny wheat seed of step (a) under plant growth conditions to yield additional wheat variety HAW12-156-derived wheat plants; and (c) repeating the crossing and growing steps of (a) and (b) to generate further wheat variety HAW12-156-derived wheat plants. In specific embodiments, steps (a) and (b) may be repeated at least 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 or more times as desired. Another embodiment still further provides a wheat plant produced by this and the foregoing methods.

Other embodiments also relate to variants, mutants and trivial modifications of the seed or plant of the wheat variety HAW12-156. Variants, mutants and trivial modifications of the seed or plant of wheat variety HAW12-156 can be generated by methods available to one skilled in the art, including but not limited to, mutagenesis (e.g., chemical mutagenesis, radiation mutagenesis, transposon mutagenesis, insertional mutagenesis, signature tagged mutagenesis, site-directed mutagenesis, and natural mutagenesis), knock-outs/knock-ins, antisense, RNA interference and other techniques such as the New Breeding Techniques. For more information of mutagenesis in plants, such as agents, protocols, see Acquaah et al. (Principles of plant genetics and breeding, Wiley-Blackwell, 2007, ISBN 1405136464, 9781405136464, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entity).

Other embodiments also relate to a mutagenized population of the wheat variety HAW12-156 and methods of using such populations. In some embodiments, the mutagenized population can be used in screening for new wheat plants which comprises one or more or all of the morphological and physiological characteristics of wheat variety HAW12-156. In some embodiments, the new wheat plants obtained from the screening process comprise all of the morphological and physiological characteristics of the wheat variety HAW12-156, and one or more additional or different morphological and physiological characteristics that wheat variety HAW12-156 does not have.

Another embodiment further provides methods for developing wheat plants in a wheat plant breeding program using plant breeding techniques including but not limited to, recurrent selection, backcrossing, pedigree breeding, genomic selection, molecular marker (Isozyme Electrophoresis, Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms (RFLPs), Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), Arbitrarily Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR), DNA Amplification Fingerprinting (DAF), Sequence Characterized Amplified Regions (SCARs), Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLPs), and Simple Sequence Repeats (SSRs) which are also referred to as Microsatellites, Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNPs), etc.) enhanced selection, genetic marker enhanced selection and transformation. Seeds, wheat plants, and parts thereof produced by such breeding methods are also part of the embodiments.

Methods for producing double haploid wheat plants from wheat variety HAW12-156 are also provided. For example, a wheat plant produced by growing a seed of the cross of wheat variety HAW12-156 with a different wheat plant or plant part can be crossed with another plant to form haploid cells. The chromosomes of the haploid cells can be doubled to form double haploid cells which are grown into a double haploid wheat plant or plant part. Haploid seed generated from a cross of a wheat plant disclosed herein with a different wheat plant can be doubled to produce a wheat plant having doubled haploid chromosomes.

A further embodiment provides for a method of producing a wheat plant derived from the wheat variety HAW12-156, the method comprising: (a) crossing the plant of wheat variety HAW12-156, wherein a representative sample of seed of said variety has been deposited under NCIMB with a second wheat plant to produce a progeny plant. A further embodiment provides for the said method further comprising the steps of: (b) crossing the progeny plant derived from wheat variety HAW12-156 with itself or a second wheat plant to produce a seed of progeny plant of subsequent generation; (c) growing the progeny plant of the subsequent generation from the seed; (d) crossing the progeny plant of the subsequent generation with itself or a second wheat plant to produce a wheat plant derived from the wheat variety HAW12-156. A further embodiment provides for the previous method further comprising the step of: (e) repeating step b) and/or c) to produce a wheat plant derived from the wheat variety HAW12-156.

Methods for cleaning, conditioning, or applying a seed treatment to the seed of wheat variety HAW12-156 are also provided.

Methods of milling the seed of wheat variety HAW12-156 and the flour produced from such milling are provided. The flour may include a cell of wheat variety HAW12-156.

Another embodiment includes producing a commodity plant product comprising collecting the commodity plant product from the plant of wheat variety HAW12-156. Another embodiment provides for the commodity plant products produced includes but is not limited to grain, flour, baked goods, cereals, pasta, beverages, livestock feed, straw, construction materials, and starches.

A further embodiment provides for a composition comprising the seed of wheat variety HAW12-156, wherein a representative sample of seed of said variety has been deposited with NCIMB, comprised in plant seed growth media, and wherein the growth media in said composition is soil or a synthetic cultivation medium.

As used herein, “at least one,” “one or more,” and “and/or” are open-ended expressions that are both conjunctive and disjunctive in operation. For example, each of the expressions “at least one of A, B and C,” “at least one of A, B, or C,” “one or more of A, B, and C,” “one or more of A, B, or C” and “A, B, and/or C” means A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B and C together.

Various embodiments are set forth herein and as embodied by the claims. It should be understood, however, that this Summary does not contain all of the aspects and embodiments, is not meant to be limiting or restrictive in any manner, and that embodiment(s) as disclosed herein is/are understood by those of ordinary skill in the art to encompass obvious improvements and modifications thereto.

In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above, further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by study of the following descriptions.

DEFINITIONS

In the description and tables that follow, a number of terms are used. In order to provide a clear and consistent understanding of the specification and claims, including the scope to be given such terms, the following definitions are provided:

Adaptability or Plant Adaptability. A plant that has adaptability is a plant able to grow well in different growing conditions (climate, soils, seasons, etc.).

Allele. An allele is any of one or more alternative forms of a gene which relate to one trait or characteristic. In a diploid cell or organism, the two alleles of a given gene occupy corresponding loci on a pair of homologous chromosomes.

Commodity plant product. A “commodity plant product” refers to any composition or product that is comprised of material derived from a plant, seed, cell, or plant part of the embodiments. Commodity plant products may be sold to consumers and can be viable or nonviable. Nonviable commodity products include but are not limited to nonviable seeds and grains; processed seeds, seed parts, and plant parts; dehydrated plant tissue, frozen plant tissue, and processed plant tissue; seeds and plant parts processed for animal feed for terrestrial and/or aquatic animal consumption, oil, meal, flour, flakes, bran, fiber, paper, tea, coffee, silage, crushed of whole grain, and any other food for human or animal consumption; and biomasses and fuel products; and raw material in industry; and grain, flour, baked goods, cereals, pasta, beverages, livestock feed, straw, construction materials, and starches.

Collection of seeds. In the context of the present embodiments, a collection of seeds is a grouping of seeds mainly containing similar kind of seeds, for example hybrid seeds having the inbred line of one or more embodiments as a parental line, but that may also contain, mixed together with this first kind of seeds, a second, different kind of seeds, of one of the inbred parent lines, for example the inbred line of the embodiments. A commercial bag of hybrid seeds having the inbred line of one or more embodiments as a parental line and containing also the inbred line seeds of one or more embodiments would be, for example such a collection of seeds.

Decreased vigor. A plant having a decreased vigor is a plant that, compared to other plants has a less vigorous appearance for vegetative and/or reproductive characteristics including shorter plant height, small ear size, fewer seeds or other characteristics.

Essentially all the physiological and morphological characteristics. A plant having essentially all the physiological and morphological characteristics means a plant having the physiological and morphological characteristics of the recurrent parent, except for the characteristics derived from the converted gene.

Immunity to disease(s) and or insect(s). A wheat plant which is not subject to attack or infection by specific disease(s) and or insect(s) is considered immune.

Intermediate resistance to disease(s) and or insect(s). A wheat plant that restricts the growth and development of specific disease(s) and or insect(s), but may exhibit a greater range of symptoms or damage compared to resistant plants. Intermediate resistant plants will usually show less severe symptoms or damage than susceptible plant varieties when grown under similar environmental conditions and/or specific disease(s) and or insect(s) pressure, but may have heavy damage under heavy pressure. Intermediate resistant wheat plants are not immune to the disease(s) and or insect(s).

New Breeding Techniques: New breeding techniques (NBTs) are said of various new technologies developed and/or used to create new characteristics in plants through genetic variation, the aim being targeted mutagenesis, targeted introduction of new genes or gene silencing (RdDM). The following breeding techniques are within the scope of NBTs: targeted sequence changes facilitated thru the use of Zinc finger nuclease (ZFN) technology (ZFN-1, ZFN-2 and ZFN-3, see U.S. Pat. No. 9,145,565), Oligonucleotide directed mutagenesis (ODM, a.k.a., site-directed mutagenesis), Cisgenesis and intragenesis, epigenetic approaches such as RNA-dependent DNA methylation (RdDM, which does not necessarily change nucleotide sequence but can change the biological activity of the sequence), Grafting (on GM rootstock), Reverse breeding, Agro-infiltration for transient gene expression (agro-infiltration “sensu stricto”, agro-inoculation, floral dip), Transcription Activator-Like Effector Nucleases (TALENs, see U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,586,363 and 9,181,535), the CRISPR/Cas system (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,697,359; 8,771,945; 8,795,965; 8,865,406; 8,871,445; 8,889,356; 8,895,308; 8,906,616; 8,932,814; 8,945,839; 8,993,233; and 8,999,641), engineered meganuclease re-engineered homing endonucleases, DNA guided genome editing (Gao et al., Nature Biotechnology (2016), doi: 10.1038/nbt.3547), and Synthetic genomics). A major part of today's targeted genome editing, another designation for New Breeding Techniques, is the applications to induce a DNA double strand break (DSB) at a selected location in the genome where the modification is intended. Directed repair of the DSB allows for targeted genome editing. Such applications can be utilized to generate mutations (e.g., targeted mutations or precise native gene editing) as well as precise insertion of genes (e.g., cisgenes, intragenes, or transgenes). The applications leading to mutations are often identified as site-directed nuclease (SDN) technology, such as SDN1, SDN2 and SDN3. For SDN1, the outcome is a targeted, non-specific genetic deletion mutation: the position of the DNA DSB is precisely selected, but the DNA repair by the host cell is random and results in small nucleotide deletions, additions or substitutions. For SDN2, a SDN is used to generate a targeted DSB and a DNA repair template (a short DNA sequence identical to the targeted DSB DNA sequence except for one or a few nucleotide changes) is used to repair the DSB: this results in a targeted and predetermined point mutation in the desired gene of interest. As to the SDN3, the SDN is used along with a DNA repair template that contains new DNA sequence (e.g. gene). The outcome of the technology would be the integration of that DNA sequence into the plant genome. The most likely application illustrating the use of SDN3 would be the insertion of cisgenic, intragenic, or transgenic expression cassettes at a selected genome location. A complete description of each of these techniques can be found in the report made by the Joint Research Center (JRC) Institute for Prospective Technological Studies of the European Commission in 2011 and titled “New plant breeding techniques—State-of-the-art and prospects for commercial development”.

Cell. As used herein, the term “cell” includes cells whether isolated, in tissue culture or incorporated in a plant or plant part.

Plant Part. As used herein, the term “plant part” includes a cell or cells, plant protoplasts, cell tissue cultures from which wheat plants can be regenerated, plant calli, plant clumps and cells that are intact in plants or parts of plants, such as embryos, pollen, ovules, anthers, ear, flowers, seed, pericarp, spike, floret, awn, lemma, shoot, petiole, stems, roots, anthers, pistils, root tips, leaves, meristematic cells, axillary buds, hypocotyls cotyledons, ovaries, seed coat endosperm and the like. In some embodiments, the plant part at least comprises at least one cell of said plant. In some embodiments, the plant part is further defined as a pollen, a meristem, a cell or an ovule. In some embodiments, a plant regenerated from the plant part has all of the phenotypic and morphological characteristics of a wheat of the embodiments, including but not limited to as determined at the 5% significance level when grown in the same environmental conditions.

Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) Quantitative trait loci refer to genetic loci that control to some degree numerically representable traits that are usually continuously distributed.

Regeneration. Regeneration refers to the development of a plant from tissue culture.

Resistance to disease(s) and or insect(s). A wheat plant that restricts highly the growth and development of specific disease(s) and or insect(s) under normal disease(s) and or insect(s) attack pressure when compared to susceptible plants. These wheat plants can exhibit some symptoms or damage under heavy disease(s) and or insect(s) pressure. Resistant wheat plants are not immune to the disease(s) and or insect(s).

Single gene converted (conversion). Single gene converted (conversion) plants refer to plants which are developed by a plant breeding technique called backcrossing wherein essentially all of the desired morphological and physiological characteristics of a plant are recovered in addition to the single gene transferred into the plant via the backcrossing technique or via genetic engineering. A single gene converted plant can also be referred to a plant obtained though mutagenesis or through the use of some new breeding techniques, whereas the single gene converted plant has essentially all of the desired morphological and physiological characteristics of the original variety in addition to the single gene or nucleotide sequence muted or engineered through the New Breeding Techniques.

Susceptible to disease(s) and or insect(s). A wheat plant that is susceptible to disease(s) and or insect(s) is defined as a wheat plant that has the inability to restrict the growth and development of specific disease(s) and or insect(s). Plants that are susceptible will show damage when infected and are more likely to have heavy damage under moderate levels of specific disease(s) and or insect(s).

Tolerance to abiotic stresses. A wheat plant that is tolerant to abiotic stresses has the ability to endure abiotic stress without serious consequences for growth, appearance and yield.

Uniformity. Uniformity, as used herein, describes the similarity between plants or plant characteristics which can be a described by qualitative or quantitative measurements.

Variety. A plant variety as used by one skilled in the art of plant breeding means a plant grouping within a single botanical taxon of the lowest known rank which can be defined by the expression of the characteristics resulting from a given genotype or combination of phenotypes, distinguished from any other plant grouping by the expression of at least one of the said characteristics and considered as a unit with regard to its suitability for being propagated unchanged (International convention for the protection of new varieties of plants).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Wheat variety HAW12-156 is a hard red winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Variety HAW12-156 demonstrates either 35% minimum amylose content in the grain or a minimum of 60% amylose in total starch.

HAW12-156 has shown no variants other than what would normally be expected due to the environment.

TABLE 1: VARIETY DESCRIPTION INFORMATION

Plant:

Kind: Common

Common wheat market class: Hard red winter

Vernalization: Winter

Coleoptile anthocyanin: Absent

Juvenile plant growth: Semi-erect

Plant color at boot stage: Green

Flag leaf at boot stage: Erect, twisted, wax present

Ear emergence (average number of days): 133 days

Anther color: Yellow

Plant height (from soil to top of head, excluding awns): 92 cm

Stem:

Anthocyanin: Absent

Waxy bloom: Present

Hairiness (last internode of rachis): Absent

Internode: Hollow; 4 nodes per stem

Peduncle: Erect; 9.0 cm in length

Auricle: Anthocyanin is absent; pubescent

Head, at Maturity:

Density: Dense

Shape: Tapering

Curvature: Erect

Awnedness: Awnless

Glumes, at Maturity:

Color: White

Shoulder shape: Oblique

Shoulder width: Medium

Beak shape: Obtuse

Beak width: Narrow

Length: Medium; around 8.0 mm

Width: Medium; around 3.5 mm

Pubescence: Absent

Seed:

Shape: Ovate

Cheek shape: Rounded

Brush description: Long and not collared

Crease width: Width is 80% or less of kernel

Crease depth: Depth 35% or less of Kernel

Color: Red

Texture: Hard

Seed weight: 33 g/1000 seed

Germ size: Mid-size

Amylose/starch content: Either 35% minimum amylose content in the grain or a minimum of 60% amylose in total starch

FURTHER EMBODIMENTS

One or more embodiments relate to a new and distinctive wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) variety designated HAW12-156, its seeds, plants, plant parts and hybrids.

Also provided are methods for making HAW12-156 that comprise crossing wheat variety HAW12-156 with another wheat plant and processes for making a wheat plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into HAW12-156 through backcross conversion and/or transformation or genetic modification, and to the wheat seed, plant and plant parts produced thereby. Variants of wheat HAW12-156 created by mutagenesis (such as but not limited to using colchicine for example, which is well-known in the art) or transformation, such as genetic modification, as well as a hybrid wheat seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety HAW12-156 or a locus conversion of HAW12-156 with another wheat variety are also provided.

Wheat variety HAW12-156 has shown uniformity and stability for all traits, as described in the variety description information provided herein. It has been self-pollinated a sufficient number of generations, with careful attention to uniformity of plant type to ensure homozygosity and phenotypic stability. HAW12-156 has been increased with continued observation for uniformity. No variant traits have been observed or are expected in HAW12-156, as described, for example, in the tables herein.

Field crops are bred through techniques that take advantage of the plant's method of pollination, such as self-pollination, sib-pollination or cross-pollination. As used herein, the term cross-pollination includes pollination with pollen from a flower on a different plant from a different family or line and does not include self-pollination or sib-pollination. Wheat plants (Triticum aestivum L.), are recognized to be naturally self-pollinated plants which, while capable of undergoing cross-pollination, rarely do so in nature. Thus, intervention for control of pollination is needed for the establishment of superior varieties.

One embodiment provides for a composition comprising a seed of HAW12-156 comprised in plant seed growth media. Plant seed growth media can provide adequate physical support for seeds and can retain moisture and/or nutritional components. In certain embodiments, the plant seed growth media is a soil or synthetic cultivation medium. Any plant seed growth media known in the art may be utilized in the embodiments and is in no way limited to soil or synthetic cultivation medium. Examples of characteristics for soils that may be desirable in certain embodiments can be found, for instance, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,932,166 and 4,707,176. Plant cultivation media are well known in the art and may, in certain embodiments, comprise polymers, hydrogels, or the like. Examples of such compositions are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,241,537. In some embodiments, the growth medium may be comprised in a container or may, for example, be soil in a field.

Another embodiment provides for methods for producing a wheat plant by crossing a first parent wheat plant with a second parent wheat plant, wherein the first or second wheat plant is the wheat plant from the variety HAW12-156. In an embodiment, the first and second parent wheat plants may be from the variety HAW12-156 (i.e., self-pollination). Any methods using the cultivar HAW12-156 are part of the embodiments: selfing, backcrosses, hybrid breeding, and crosses to populations. Any plants produced using cultivar HAW12-156 as a parent are within the scope of the embodiments. Other embodiments are also directed to cells that, upon growth and differentiation, produce a cultivar having essentially all of the morphological and physiological characteristics of HAW12-156. The embodiments additionally contemplate a wheat plant regenerated from a tissue culture of variety HAW12-156.

Other embodiments are directed to a transgenic variant of HAW12-156. A transgenic variant of HAW12-156 may contain at least one transgene but could contain at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or more transgenes. In another embodiment, a transgenic variant of HAW12-156 may contain no more than 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, or 2 transgenes.

Another embodiment involves a process for producing wheat variety HAW12-156 further comprising a desired trait, said process comprising introducing a transgene that confers a desired trait to a wheat plant of variety HAW12-156. Methods for producing transgenic plants have been developed and are well known in the art. As part of the embodiments, one of ordinary skill in the art may utilize any method of producing transgenic plants which is currently known or yet to be developed.

Numerous methods for plant transformation have been developed, including biological and physical plant transformation protocols. In addition, expression vectors and in vitro culture methods for cell or tissue transformation and regeneration of plants are available.

In certain embodiments, the desired trait may be one or more of herbicide tolerance or resistance, insect resistance or tolerance, disease resistance or tolerance, resistance for bacterial, viral, or fungal disease, male fertility, male sterility, decreased phytate, or modified fatty acid or carbohydrate metabolism. The specific transgene may be any known in the art or listed herein, including, but not limited to a polynucleotide conferring resistance to imidazolinone, dicamba, sulfonylurea, glyphosate, glufosinate, triazine, benzonitrile, cyclohexanedione, phenoxy propionic acid, and L-phosphinothricin; a polynucleotide encoding a Bacillus thuringiensis polypeptide, a polynucleotide encoding phytase, FAD-2, FAD-3, galactinol synthase or a raffinose synthetic enzyme, Fusarium, Septoria, or various viruses or bacteria.

Various genetic elements can be introduced into the plant genome using transformation. These elements include, but are not limited to genes, coding sequences, inducible, constitutive, and tissue-specific promoters, enhancing sequences, and signal and targeting sequences.

Some embodiments relate to a HAW12-156 plant that has been developed using both genetic engineering and traditional breeding techniques. For example, a genetic trait may have been engineered into the genome of a particular wheat plant may then be moved into the genome of a HAW12-156 plant using traditional breeding techniques that are well-known in the plant breeding arts. Likewise, a genetic trait that has been engineered into the genome of a HAW12-156 wheat plant may then be moved into the genome of another cultivar using traditional breeding techniques that are well known in the plant breeding arts. A backcrossing approach is commonly used to move a transgene or transgenes from a transformed wheat cultivar into an already developed wheat cultivar, and the resulting backcross conversion plant would then comprise the transgene(s).

Plant transformation involves the construction of an expression vector that will function in cells. Such a vector may comprise DNA comprising a gene under control of or operatively linked to a regulatory element (for example, a promoter). The expression vector may contain one or more such operably linked gene/regulatory element combinations. The vector(s) may be in the form of a plasmid and can be used alone or in combination with other plasmids to provide transformed wheat plants, using transformation methods as described below to incorporate transgenes into the genetic material of the wheat plant(s).

Expression Vectors for Wheat Transformation: Marker Genes

Expression vectors may include at least one genetic marker operably linked to a regulatory element that allows transformed cells containing the marker to be either recovered by negative selection, i.e., inhibiting growth of cells that do not contain the selectable marker gene, or by positive selection, i.e., screening for the product encoded by the genetic marker. Many commonly used selectable marker genes for plant transformation are well-known in the transformation arts, and may include, for example, genes that code for enzymes that metabolically detoxify a selective chemical agent, which may be an antibiotic or an herbicide, or genes that encode an altered target which is insensitive to the inhibitor. Positive selection methods are also known in the art.

One commonly used selectable marker gene for plant transformation is the neomycin phosphotransferase II (nptII) gene, which when under the control of plant regulatory signals, confers resistance to kanamycin. Another commonly used selectable marker gene is the hygromycin phosphotransferase gene, which confers resistance to the antibiotic hygromycin.

Additional selectable marker genes of bacterial origin that confer resistance to antibiotics include gentamycin acetyl transferase, streptomycin phosphotransferase, and aminoglycoside-3′-adenyl transferase, the bleomycin resistance determinant. Other selectable marker genes confer tolerance or resistance to herbicides such as glyphosate, glufosinate, or bromoxynil, or the like.

Other selectable marker genes for plant transformation that are not of bacterial origin may include, for example, mouse dihydrofolate reductase, plant 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase, and plant acetolactate synthase.

Another class of marker genes for plant transformation requires screening of presumptively transformed cells, rather than direct genetic selection of transformed cells, for resistance to a toxic substance such as an antibiotic. These genes are particularly useful to quantify or visualize the spatial pattern of expression of a gene in specific tissues and are frequently referred to as reporter genes because they can be fused to a gene or gene regulatory sequence for the investigation of gene expression. Commonly used genes for screening presumptively transformed cells include beta-glucuronidase (GUS), beta-galactosidase, luciferase, and chloramphenicol acetyltransferase. In vivo methods for visualizing GUS activity that do not require destruction of plant tissue are also available. More recently, a gene encoding Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) has been utilized as a marker for gene expression in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. GFP and mutants of GFP may also be used as screenable markers.

Expression Vectors for Wheat Transformation: Promoters

Genes included in expression vectors must be driven by a nucleotide sequence comprising a regulatory element, for example, a promoter. Many types of promoters are well known in the transformation arts, as are other regulatory elements that can be used alone or in combination with promoters.

As used herein, “promoter” includes reference to a region of DNA upstream of the start of transcription and involved in recognition and binding of RNA polymerase and other proteins to initiate transcription. A “plant promoter” is a promoter capable of initiating transcription in cells. Examples of promoters under developmental control include promoters that preferentially initiate transcription in certain tissues, such as leaves, roots, seeds, fibers, xylem vessels, tracheids, or sclerenchyma. Such promoters may be referred to as “tissue-preferred.” Promoters that initiate transcription only in certain tissue are referred to as “tissue-specific.” A “cell type” specific promoter primarily drives expression in certain cell types in one or more organs, for example, vascular cells in roots or leaves. An “inducible” promoter is a promoter under environmental control. Examples of environmental conditions that may affect transcription by inducible promoters include anaerobic conditions or the presence of light. Tissue-specific, tissue-preferred, cell type specific, and inducible promoters constitute the class of “non-constitutive” promoters. A “constitutive” promoter is a promoter that is active under most environmental conditions.

A. Inducible Promoters: An inducible promoter is operably linked to a gene for expression in wheat. Optionally, the inducible promoter may be operably linked to a nucleotide sequence encoding a signal sequence that is operably linked to a gene for expression in wheat. With an inducible promoter, the rate of transcription increases in response to an inducing agent.

Any inducible promoter may be used in the present embodiments. Exemplary inducible promoters include, but are not limited to, those from the ACEI system, which respond to copper, and the In2 gene from maize, which responds to benzene-sulfonamide herbicide safeners. In an embodiment, the inducible promoter may be a promoter that responds to an inducing agent to which plants do not normally respond. An exemplary inducible promoter may be an inducible promoter from a steroid hormone gene, the transcriptional activity of which is induced by a glucocorticosteroid hormone.

B. Constitutive Promoters: A constitutive promoter is operably linked to a gene for expression in wheat, or is operably linked to a nucleotide sequence encoding a signal sequence that is operably linked to a gene for expression in wheat.

Many different constitutive promoters can be utilized in the present embodiments. Exemplary constitutive promoters include, but are not limited to, the promoters from plant viruses, such as the 35S promoter from CaMV and the promoters from such genes as rice actin; ubiquitin; pEMU; MAS, and maize H3 histone. The ALS promoter, Xbal/Ncol fragment 5′ to the Brassica napus ALS3 structural gene (or a nucleotide sequence similarity to said Xbal/Ncol fragment), represents a particularly useful constitutive promoter.

C. Tissue-specific or Tissue-preferred Promoters: A tissue-specific promoter is operably linked to a gene for expression in wheat. The tissue-specific promoter may be operably linked to a nucleotide sequence encoding a signal sequence that is operably linked to a gene for expression in wheat. Plants transformed with a gene of interest operably linked to a tissue-specific promoter may produce the protein product of the transgene exclusively, or preferentially, in a specific tissue.

Any tissue-specific or tissue-preferred promoter can be utilized in the present embodiments. Exemplary tissue-specific or tissue-preferred promoters include, but are not limited to, a root-preferred promoter, such as that from the phaseolin gene; a leaf-specific and light-induced promoter, such as that from cab or rubisco; an anther-specific promoter, such as that from LAT52; a pollen-specific promoter, such as that from Zml 3; or a microspore-preferred promoter, such as that from apg.

Signal Sequences for Targeting Proteins to Subcellular Compartments

Transport of protein produced by transgenes to a subcellular compartment such as the chloroplast, vacuole, peroxisome, glyoxysome, cell wall, or mitochondrion, or for secretion into the apoplast, is accomplished by means of operably linking the nucleotide sequence encoding a signal sequence to the 5′ and/or 3′ region of a gene encoding the protein of interest. Targeting sequences at the 5′ and/or 3′ end of the structural gene may determine, during protein synthesis and processing, where the encoded protein is ultimately compartmentalized. The presence of a signal sequence directs a polypeptide to either an intracellular organelle or subcellular compartment or for secretion to the apoplast. Many signal sequences are known in the art.

Foreign Protein Genes and Agronomic Genes

Using transgenic plants according to the present embodiments, a foreign protein can be produced in commercial quantities. Thus, techniques for the selection and propagation of transformed plants, which are well understood in the art, yield a plurality of transgenic plants that may be harvested in a conventional manner. A foreign protein can then be extracted from a tissue of interest or from total biomass. Protein extraction from plant biomass can be accomplished by known methods.

According to an embodiment, the transgenic plant provided for commercial production of foreign protein is, or is derived from a HAW12-156 wheat plant. In another embodiment, the biomass of interest is or is derived from a HAW12-156 seed. For the relatively small number of transgenic plants that show higher levels of expression, a genetic map can be generated, primarily via conventional restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and simple sequence repeat (SSR) analysis, which identify the approximate chromosomal location of the integrated DNA molecule. Map information concerning chromosomal location is useful for proprietary protection of a subject transgenic plant. If unauthorized propagation is undertaken and crosses made with other germplasm, the map of the integration region can be compared to similar maps for suspect plants, to determine if the latter have a common parentage with the subject plant. Map comparisons would involve hybridizations, RFLP, PCR, SSR, and sequencing, all of which are conventional techniques well known in the art.

Other embodiments comprise transformed HAW12-156 plants that express particular agronomic genes or phenotypes of agronomic interest. Exemplary genes implicated in this regard include, but are not limited to, those categorized below:

1. Genes that Confer Tolerance or Resistance to Pests or Disease and that Encode:

A. Plant disease tolerance or resistance genes. Plant defenses are often activated by specific interaction between the product of a disease tolerance or resistance gene (R) in the plant and the product of a corresponding avirulence (Avr) gene in the pathogen. A plant variety can be transformed with one or more cloned resistance genes to engineer plants that are resistant to specific pathogen strains.

B. A gene conferring resistance to a pest, such as nematodes.

C. A Bacillus thuringiensis protein, a derivative thereof, or a synthetic polypeptide modeled thereon. Moreover, DNA molecules encoding 8-endotoxin genes can be purchased from American Type Culture Collection, Manassas, Va., for example, under ATCC Accession Nos. 40098, 67136, 31995 and 31998.

D. A lectin. The nucleotide sequence of several Clivia miniata mannose-binding lectin genes are known in the art.

E. A vitamin-binding protein such as avidin or avidin homologues.

F. An enzyme inhibitor, for example, a protease or proteinase inhibitor or an amylase inhibitor. For example, the nucleotide sequences of rice cysteine proteinase inhibitor, cDNA encoding tobacco proteinase inhibitor I, and Streptomyces nitrosporeus alpha-amylase inhibitor are known in the art.

G. An insect-specific hormone or pheromone such as an ecdysteroid and juvenile hormone, a variant thereof, a mimetic based thereon, or an antagonist or agonist thereof. For example, the baculovirus expression of cloned juvenile hormone esterase, an inactivator of juvenile hormone, is known in the art.

H. An insect-specific peptide or neuropeptide which, upon expression, disrupts the physiology of the affected pest. For example, it is known that expression cloning yields DNA coding for insect diuretic hormone receptor and an allostatin can be identified in Diploptera puntata. Genes encoding insect-specific, paralytic neurotoxins are also known in the art.

I. An insect-specific venom produced in nature by a snake, a wasp, etc. For example, heterologous expression in plants of a gene coding for a scorpion insectotoxic peptide is known in the art.

J. An enzyme responsible for a hyper-accumulation of a monoterpene, a sesquiterpene, a steroid, a hydroxamic acid, a phenylpropanoid derivative, or another non-protein molecule with insecticidal activity.

K. An enzyme involved in the modification, including the post-translational modification, of a biologically active molecule. For example, such enzymes include, but are not limited to, a glycolytic enzyme, a proteolytic enzyme, a lipolytic enzyme, a nuclease, a cyclase, a callase, a transaminase, an esterase, a hydrolase, a phosphatase, a kinase, a phosphorylase, a polymerase, an elastase, a chitinase, and a glucanase, whether natural or synthetic. DNA molecules that contain chitinase-encoding sequences can be obtained, for example, from the ATCC under Accession Nos. 39637 and 67152. The nucleotide sequences of a cDNA encoding tobacco hookworm chitinase and parsley ubi4-2 polyubiquitin gene are also known in the art.

L. A molecule that stimulates signal transduction. For example, the nucleotide sequences for mung bean calmodulin cDNA clones and a maize calmodulin cDNA clone are known in the art.

M. A hydrophobic moment peptide. For example, peptide derivatives of Tachyplesin, which inhibit fungal plant pathogens, or synthetic antimicrobial peptides that confer disease resistance.

N. A membrane permease, a channel former, or a channel blocker. For example, heterologous expression of a cecropin-13 lytic peptide analog to render transgenic tobacco plants resistant to Pseudomonas solanacearum is known in the art.

O. A viral-invasive protein or a complex toxin derived therefrom. For example, the accumulation of viral coat proteins in transformed cells imparts resistance to viral infection and/or disease development affected by the virus from which the coat protein gene is derived, as well as by related viruses. Coat protein-mediated resistance has been conferred upon transformed plants against alfalfa mosaic virus, cucumber mosaic virus, tobacco streak virus, potato virus X, potato virus Y, tobacco etch virus, tobacco rattle virus, and tobacco mosaic virus.

P. An insect-specific antibody or an immunotoxin derived therefrom. Thus, an antibody targeted to a critical metabolic function in the insect gut would inactivate an affected enzyme, killing the insect. For example, enzymatic inactivation in transgenic tobacco via production of single-chain antibody fragments is known in the art.

Q. A virus-specific antibody. For example, it is known in the art that transgenic plants expressing recombinant antibody genes are protected from virus attack.

R. A developmental-arrestive protein produced in nature by a pathogen or a parasite. Thus, fungal endo-alpha-1,4-D-polygalacturonases facilitate fungal colonization and plant nutrient release by solubilizing cell wall homo-alpha-1,4-D-galacturonase. The cloning and characterization of a gene that encodes a bean endopolygalacturonase-inhibiting protein is known in the art.

S. A developmental-arrestive protein produced in nature by a plant. For example, it has been shown that transgenic plants expressing the barley ribosome-inactivating gene have an increased resistance to fungal disease.

T. Genes expressing proteins with antifungal action. Fusarium head blight along with deoxynivalenol both produced by the pathogen Fusarium graminearum (Schwabe) have caused devastating losses in wheat production. Genes expressing proteins with antifungal action can be used as transgenes to prevent Fusarium head blight. Various classes of proteins have been identified. Examples include endochitinases, exochitinases, glucanases, thionins, thaumatin-like proteins, osmotins, ribosome-inactivating proteins, flavonoids, and lactoferricin. During infection with Fusarium graminearum, deoxynivalenol is produced. There is evidence that production of deoxynivalenol increases the virulence of the disease. Genes with properties for detoxification of deoxynivalenol have been engineered for use in wheat. A synthetic peptide that competes with deoxynivalenol has been identified. Changing the ribosomes of the host so that they have reduced affinity for deoxynivalenol has also been used to reduce the virulence of Fusarium graminearum. Genes used to help reduce Fusarium head blight include, but are not limited to, Tri101 (Fusarium), PDR5 (yeast), tlp-1 (oat), tlp-2 (oat), leaf tlp-1 (wheat), tlp (rice), tlp-4 (oat), endochitinase, exochitinase, glucanase (Fusarium), permatin (oat), seed hordothionin (barley), alpha-thionin (wheat), acid glucanase (alfalfa), chitinase (barley and rice), class beta II-1,3-glucanase (barley), PR5/tlp (Arabidopsis), zeamatin (maize), type 1 RIP (barley), NPR1 (Arabidopsis), lactoferrin (mammal), oxalylCoA-decarboxylase (bacterium), IAP (baculovirus), ced-9 (C. elegans), and glucanase (rice and barley).

U. A gene, for example, the H9, H10, and H21 genes, conferring resistance to a pest, such as Hessian fly, stem soft fly, cereal leaf beetle, and/or green bug.

V. A gene conferring resistance to diseases such as wheat rusts, Septoria tritici, Septoria nodorum, powdery mildew, Helminthosporium diseases, smuts, bunts, Fusarium diseases, bacterial diseases, and viral diseases.

W. Genes involved in the Systemic Acquired Resistance (SAR) response and/or the pathogenesis-related genes.

X. Antifungal genes.

Y. Detoxification genes, such as for fumonisin, beauvericin, moniliformin, and zearalenone and their structurally related derivatives.

Z. Cystatin and cysteine proteinase inhibitors.

AA. Defensin genes.

BB. Genes conferring resistance to nematodes.

2. Genes that Confer Tolerance or Resistance to an Herbicide:

A. An herbicide that inhibits the growing point or meristem, such as an imidazolinone or a sulfonylurea. Exemplary genes in this category code for mutant ALS and AHAS enzyme.

B. Glyphosate (resistance conferred by mutant 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) and aroA genes) and other phosphono compounds, such as glufosinate (phosphinothricin acetyl transferase (PAT) and Streptomyces hygroscopicus PAT bar genes), and pyridinoxy or phenoxy propionic acids and cyclohexanediones (ACCase inhibitor-encoding genes). For example, the nucleotide sequence of a form of EPSP which can confer glyphosate resistance is known in the art. A DNA molecule encoding a mutant aroA gene can be obtained under ATCC accession number 39256, and the nucleotide sequence of the mutant gene is known. Nucleotide sequences of glutamine synthetase genes that confer tolerance or resistance to herbicides such as L-phosphinothricin are also known in the art. The nucleotide sequence of a PAT gene is known in the art, as is the production of transgenic plants that express chimeric bar genes coding for PAT activity. Exemplary genes conferring resistance to phenoxy propionic acids and cyclohexanediones, such as sethoxydim and haloxyfop are the Accl-S1, Accl-S2, and Accl-S3 genes.

C. An herbicide that inhibits photosynthesis, such as a triazine (psbA and gs+ genes) or a benzonitrile (nitrilase gene). Nucleotide sequences for nitrilase genes are disclosed and DNA molecules containing these genes are available under ATCC Accession Nos. 53435, 67441, and 67442. Cloning and expression of DNA coding for a glutathione S-transferase is described in the art.

D. Acetohydroxy acid synthase. This enzyme has been found to make plants that express this enzyme tolerant or resistant to multiple types of herbicides and has been introduced into a variety of plants. Other genes that confer tolerance or resistance to herbicides include a gene encoding a chimeric protein of rat cytochrome P4507A1 and yeast NADPH-cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase, genes for glutathione reductase and superoxide dismutase, and genes for various phosphotransferase.

E. Protoporphyrinogen oxidase (protox). Protox is necessary for the production of chlorophyll, which is necessary for survival in all plants. The protox enzyme serves as the target for a variety of herbicidal compounds. These herbicides also inhibit growth of different species of plants present, causing their total destruction. The development of plants containing altered protox activity that are tolerant or resistant to these herbicides is described in the art.

3. Genes that Confer or Contribute to a Value-Added Trait, Such as:

A. Modified fatty acid metabolism, for example, by transforming a plant with an antisense gene of stearyl-ACP desaturase to increase stearic acid content of the plant.

B. Decreased phytate content. This can be accomplished by: (1) Introduction of a phytase-encoding gene that enhances breakdown of phytate, adding more free phosphate to the transformed plant; or (2) Up-regulation of a gene that reduces phytate content. For example, the nucleotide sequence of an Aspergillus niger phytase gene has been described in the art.

C. Modified carbohydrate composition effected, for example, by transforming plants with a gene coding for an enzyme that alters the branching pattern of starch, or, a gene altering thioredoxin such as NTR and/or TRX and/or a gamma zein knockout or mutant, such as cs27, TUSC27, or en27. For example, the nucleotide sequences of Streptococcus nutans fructosyltransferase gene, Bacillus subtilis levansucrase gene, and tomato invertase genes are known in the art. Transgenic plants can be produced that express Bacillus licheniformis alpha-amylase, that site-direct mutagenesis of barley alpha-amylase gene, or confer maize endosperm starch branching enzyme II or improved digestibility and/or starch extraction through modification of UDP-D-xylose 4-epimerase. Methods of producing high oil seed by modification of starch levels (AGP) are also known. The fatty acid modification genes mentioned above may also be used to affect starch content and/or composition through the interrelationship of the starch and oil pathways.

D. Elevated oleic acid via FAD-2 gene modification and/or decreased linolenic acid via FAD-3 gene modification.

E. Altering conjugated linolenic or linoleic acid content, or LEC1, AGP, Dekl, Superall, milps, various Ipa genes such as Ipal, Ipa3, hpt, or hggt.

F. Altered antioxidant content or composition, such as alteration of tocopherol or tocotrienols. For example, manipulation of antioxidant levels through alteration of a phytl prenyl transferase (ppt) is known, as is manipulation of antioxidant levels through alteration of a homogentisate geranyl geranyl transferase (hggt).

G. The content of high-molecular weight gluten subunits (HMS-GS). Genomic clones have been isolated for different subunits. For example, genomic clones have transformed wheat with genes that encode a modified HMW-GS.

H. Increased protein metabolism, zinc and iron content, for example, by regulating the NAC gene, increasing protein metabolism by regulating the Gpc-B 1 gene, or regulating glutenin and gliadin genes.

I. Altered essential seed amino acids. Methods of increasing accumulation of essential amino acids in seeds, binary methods of increasing accumulation of essential amino acids in seeds, alteration of amino acid compositions in seeds, methods for altering amino acid content of proteins, alteration of amino acid compositions in seeds, and proteins with enhanced levels of essential amino acids all are known in the art. Other examples may include high methionine, high threonine, plant amino acid biosynthetic enzymes, increased lysine and threonine, plant tryptophan synthase beta subunit, methionine metabolic enzymes, high sulfur, increased methionine, plant amino acid biosynthetic enzymes, engineered seed protein having higher percentage of essential amino acids, increased lysine, increasing sulfur amino acid content, synthetic storage proteins with defined structure containing programmable levels of essential amino acids for improvement of the nutritional value of plants, increased threonine, increased lysine, Ces A: cellulose synthase, hemicellulose, UDPGdH, and RGP.

4. Genes that Control Male Sterility

There are several methods of conferring genetic male sterility available, such as multiple mutant genes at separate locations within the genome that confer male sterility. In addition to these methods, a system of nuclear male sterility that includes: identifying a gene which is critical to male fertility; silencing this native gene which is critical to male fertility; removing the native promoter from the essential male fertility gene and replacing it with an inducible promoter; inserting this genetically engineered gene back into the plant; and thus creating a plant that is male sterile because the inducible promoter is not “on”, resulting in the male fertility gene not being transcribed, is known. Fertility is restored by inducing, or turning “on”, the promoter, which in turn allows the gene that confers male fertility to be transcribed.

A. Introduction of a deacetylase gene under the control of a tapetum-specific promoter and with the application of the chemical N-Ac-PPT.

B. Introduction of various stamen-specific promoters.

C. Introduction of the barnase and the barstar genes.

5. Genes that Create a Site for Site Specific DNA Integration.

This includes the introduction of FRT sites that may be used in the FLP/FRT system and/or Lox sites that may be used in the Cre/Loxp system. Other systems that may be used include the Gin recombinase of phage Mu, the Pin recombinase of E. coli, and the R/RS system of the pSR1 plasmid.

6. Genes that Affect Abiotic Stress Resistance.

A. Genes that affect abiotic stress resistance (including but not limited to flowering, seed development, enhancement of nitrogen utilization efficiency, altered nitrogen responsiveness, drought resistance or tolerance, cold resistance or tolerance, and salt resistance or tolerance) and increased yield under stress. For example, water use efficiency can be altered through alteration of malate. In addition, various genes, including CBF genes and transcription factors, can be effective in mitigating the negative effects of freezing, high salinity, and drought on plants, as well as conferring other positive effects on plant phenotype. Abscisic acid can be altered in plants, resulting in improved plant phenotype, such as increased yield and/or increased tolerance to abiotic stress. Cytokinin expression can be modified resulting in plants with increased stress tolerance, such as drought tolerance, and/or increased yield. Nitrogen utilization can be enhanced and/or nitrogen responsiveness can be altered. Ethylene can be altered. Plant transcription factors or transcriptional regulators of abiotic stress can also be altered.

B. Improved tolerance to water stress from drought or high salt water condition. The HVA1 protein belongs to the group 3 LEA proteins that include other members such as wheat pMA2005, cotton D-7, carrot Dc3, and rape pLEA76. These proteins are characterized by 11-mer tandem repeats of amino acid domains which may form a probable amphophilic alpha-helical structure that presents a hydrophilic surface with a hydrophobic stripe. The barley HVA1 gene and the wheat pMA2005 gene are highly similar at both the nucleotide level and predicted amino acid level. These two monocot genes are closely related to the cotton D-7 gene and carrot Dc3 gene with which they share a similar structural gene organization. There is, therefore, a correlation between LEA gene expression or LEA protein accumulation with stress tolerance in a number of plants. For example, in severely dehydrated wheat seedlings, the accumulation of high levels of group 3 LEA proteins was correlated with tissue dehydration tolerance. Studies on several Indica varieties of rice showed that the levels of group 2 LEA proteins (also known as dehydrins) and group 3 LEA proteins in roots were significantly higher in salt-tolerant varieties compared with sensitive varieties. The barley HVA1 gene was transformed into wheat. Transformed wheat plants showed increased tolerance to water stress.

C. Improved water stress tolerance through increased mannitol levels via the bacterial mannitol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase gene. It is known to produce a plant with a genetic basis for coping with water deficit by introduction of the bacterial mannitol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase gene, mt1D, into tobacco cells via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Root and leaf tissues from transgenic plants regenerated from these transformed tobacco cells contained up to 100 mM mannitol. Control plants contained no detectable mannitol. To determine whether the transgenic tobacco plants exhibited increased tolerance to water deficit, the growth of transgenic plants was compared to that of untransformed control plants in the presence of 250 mM NaCl. After 30 days of exposure to 250 mM NaCl, transgenic plants had decreased weight loss and increased height relative to their untransformed counterparts. The authors concluded that the presence of mannitol in these transformed tobacco plants contributed to water deficit tolerance at the cellular level.

Other genes and transcription factors that affect plant growth and agronomic traits such as yield, flowering, plant growth and/or plant structure, can be introduced or introgressed into plants.

Methods for Wheat Transformation

Numerous methods for plant transformation have been developed, including biological and physical plant transformation protocols. In addition, expression vectors and in vitro culture methods for cell or tissue transformation and regeneration of plants are available.

A. Agrobacterium-Mediated Transformation. One method for introducing an expression vector into plants is based on the natural transformation system of Agrobacterium. A. tumefaciens and A. rhizogenes are plant pathogenic soil bacteria that genetically transform cells. The Ti and Ri plasmids of A. tumefaciens and A. rhizogenes, respectively, carry genes responsible for genetic transformation of the plant. Descriptions of Agrobacterium vector systems and methods for Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer are well known in the art.

B. Direct Gene Transfer. Several methods of plant transformation, collectively referred to as direct gene transfer, have been developed as an alternative to Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. A generally applicable method of plant transformation is microproj ectile-mediated transformation, wherein DNA is carried on the surface of microprojectiles measuring 1 to 4 pm. The expression vector is introduced into plant tissues with a biolistic device that accelerates the microprojectiles to speeds of 300 to 600 m/s, which is sufficient to penetrate cell walls and membranes.

Another method for physical delivery of DNA to plants is sonication of target cells. Alternatively, liposome and spheroplast fusion have been used to introduce expression vectors into plants. Direct uptake of DNA into protoplasts using CaCl₂) precipitation, polyvinyl alcohol or poly-L-ornithine has also been reported. Electroporation of protoplasts and whole cells and tissues has also been described. Following transformation of wheat target tissues, expression of the above-described selectable marker genes allows for preferential selection of transformed cells, tissues and/or plants, using regeneration and selection methods that are well known in the art.

The foregoing methods for transformation would typically be used for producing a transgenic variety. The transgenic variety could then be crossed, with another (non-transformed or transformed) variety, in order to produce a new transgenic variety. Alternatively, a genetic trait which has been engineered into a particular wheat cultivar using the foregoing transformation techniques could be moved into another cultivar using traditional backcrossing techniques that are well known in the plant breeding arts. For example, a backcrossing approach could be used to move an engineered trait from a public, non-elite variety into an elite variety, or from a variety containing a foreign gene in its genome into a variety or varieties which do not contain that gene. As used herein, “crossing” can refer to a simple X by Y cross, or the process of backcrossing, depending on the context.

Genetic Marker Profile Through SSR and First-Generation Progeny

In addition to phenotypic observations, a plant can also be identified by its genotype. The genotype of a plant can be characterized through a genetic marker profile, which can identify plants of the same variety or a related variety or be used to determine or validate a pedigree. Genetic marker profiles can be obtained by techniques such as Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms (RFLPs), Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), Arbitrarily Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR), DNA Amplification Fingerprinting (DAF), Sequence Characterized Amplified Regions (SCARs), Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLPs), Simple Sequence Repeats (SSRs) which are also referred to as microsatellites, and Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs).

Particular markers used for these purposes are not limited to any particular set of markers, but are envisioned to include any type of marker and marker profile that provides a means of distinguishing varieties. One method of comparison is to use only homozygous loci for HAW12-156.

In addition to being used for identification of wheat cultivar HAW12-156 and plant parts and cells of cultivar HAW12-156, the genetic profile may be used to identify a wheat plant produced through the use of HAW12-156 or to verify a pedigree for progeny plants produced through the use of HAW12-156. The genetic marker profile is also useful in breeding and developing backcross conversions.

Some embodiments relate to a wheat plant characterized by molecular and physiological data obtained from the representative sample of HAW12-156, deposited with the NCIMB. Provided in further embodiments is a wheat plant formed by the combination of the HAW12-156 plant or cell with another wheat plant or cell and comprising the homozygous alleles of the variety.

Means of performing genetic marker profiles using SSR polymorphisms are well known in the art. SSRs are genetic markers based on polymorphisms in repeated nucleotide sequences, such as microsatellites. A marker system based on SSRs can be highly informative in linkage analysis relative to other marker systems in that multiple alleles may be present. Another advantage of this type of marker is that, through use of flanking primers, detection of SSRs can be achieved, for example, by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), thereby eliminating the need for labor-intensive Southern hybridization. PCR detection uses two oligonucleotide primers flanking the polymorphic segment of repetitive DNA. Repeated cycles of heat denaturation of the DNA, followed by annealing of the primers to their complementary sequences at low temperatures, and extension of the annealed primers with DNA polymerase, comprise the major part of the methodology.

Following amplification, markers can be scored by electrophoresis of the amplification products. Scoring of marker genotype is based on the size of the amplified fragment, which may be measured by the number of base pairs of the fragment. While variation in the primer used or in laboratory procedures can affect the reported fragment size, relative values should remain constant regardless of the specific primer or laboratory used. When comparing varieties, all SSR profiles may be performed in the same lab.

The SSR profile of wheat plant HAW12-156 can be used to identify plants comprising HAW12-156 as a parent, since such plants will comprise the same homozygous alleles as HAW12-156. Because the wheat cultivar is essentially homozygous at all relevant loci, most loci should have only one type of allele present. In contrast, a genetic marker profile of an F₁ progeny should be the sum of those parents, e.g., if one parent was homozygous for allele x at a particular locus, and the other parent homozygous for allele y at that locus, then the F₁ progeny will be xy (heterozygous) at that locus. Subsequent generations of progeny produced by selection and breeding are expected to be of genotype x (homozygous), y (homozygous), or xy (heterozygous) for that locus position. When the F₁ plant is selfed or sibbed for successive filial generations, the locus should be either x or y for that position.

In addition, plants and plant parts substantially benefiting from the use of HAW12-156 in their development, such as HAW12-156 comprising a backcross conversion, transgene, or genetic sterility factor, may be identified by having a molecular marker profile with a high percent identity to HAW12-156. In an embodiment, such a percent identity might be 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5% or 99.9% identical to HAW12-156.

The SSR profile of HAW12-156 also can be used to identify essentially derived varieties and other progeny varieties developed from the use of HAW12-156, as well as cells and other plant parts thereof. Progeny plants and plant parts produced using HAW12-156 may be identified by having a molecular marker profile of at least 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 99.5% genetic contribution from HAW12-156, as measured by either percent identity or percent similarity. Such progeny may be further characterized as being within a pedigree distance of HAW12-156, such as within 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 or fewer cross-pollinations to a wheat plant other than HAW12-156 or a plant that has HAW12-156 as a progenitor. Unique molecular profiles may be identified with other molecular tools such as SNPs and RFLPs.

While determining the SSR genetic marker profile of a plant as described above, several unique SSR profiles may also be identified that did not appear in either parent plant. Such unique SSR profiles may arise during the breeding process from recombination or mutation. A combination of several unique alleles provides a means of identifying a plant variety, an F₁ progeny produced from such variety, and further progeny produced from such variety.

Gene Conversion

When the term “wheat plant” is used in the context of the embodiments, this also includes any gene conversions of that cultivar. Backcrossing methods can be used with the embodiments to improve or introduce a characteristic into the cultivar. For example, a variety may be backcrossed 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or more times to the recurrent parent. The parental wheat plant that contributes the gene for the desired characteristic is termed the “nonrecurrent” or “donor” parent. This terminology refers to the fact that the nonrecurrent parent is used one time in the backcross protocol and therefore does not recur. The parental wheat plant to which the gene or genes from the nonrecurrent parent are transferred is known as the recurrent parent, as it is used for several rounds in the backcrossing protocol. In a typical backcross protocol, the original variety of interest (recurrent parent) is crossed to a second variety (nonrecurrent parent) that carries the single gene of interest to be transferred. The resulting progeny from this cross are then crossed again to the recurrent parent and the process is repeated until a wheat plant is obtained wherein essentially all of the desired morphological and physiological characteristics of the recurrent parent are recovered in the converted plant, in addition to the single transferred gene from the nonrecurrent parent.

The selection of a suitable recurrent parent contributes to a successful backcrossing procedure. The goal of a backcross protocol is to alter or substitute a single trait or characteristic in the original variety. To accomplish this, a single gene of the recurrent variety is modified or substituted with the desired gene from the nonrecurrent parent, while retaining essentially all of the rest of the desired genetic, and therefore the desired morphological and physiological, constitution of the original variety. The choice of the particular nonrecurrent parent will depend on the purpose of the backcross. One of the major purposes is to add commercially desirable, agronomically important traits to the plant. The exact backcrossing protocol will depend on the characteristic or trait being altered. Although backcrossing methods are simplified when the characteristic being transferred is a dominant allele, a recessive allele may also be transferred. In this instance, it may be necessary to introduce a test of the progeny to determine if the desired characteristic has been successfully transferred.

Many single gene traits have been identified that are not regularly selected for in the development of a new variety, but that can be improved by backcrossing techniques. Single gene traits may or may not be transgenic. Examples of these traits include, but are not limited to, male sterility, waxy starch, herbicide tolerance or resistance, resistance for bacterial, fungal, or viral disease, insect resistance or tolerance, male fertility, enhanced nutritional quality, industrial usage, yield stability and yield enhancement.

Introduction of a New Trait or Locus into HAW12-156

Variety HAW12-156 represents a new base genetic variety into which a new locus or trait may be introduced. Direct transformation and backcrossing represent two important methods that can be used to accomplish this. The term backcross conversion and single locus conversion are used interchangeably to designate the product of a backcrossing program.

Backcross Conversions of HAW12-156

A backcross conversion of HAW12-156 occurs when DNA sequences are introduced through backcrossing, with HAW12-156 utilized as the recurrent parent. Both naturally occurring and transgenic DNA sequences may be introduced through backcrossing techniques. A backcross conversion may produce a plant with a trait or locus conversion in at least two or more backcrosses, including at least 2 crosses, at least 3 crosses, at least 4 crosses, at least 5 crosses, or additional crosses. Molecular marker assisted breeding or selection may be utilized to reduce the number of backcrosses necessary to achieve the backcross conversion. For example, a backcross conversion can be made in as few as two backcrosses.

The complexity of the backcross conversion method depends on the type of trait being transferred (single genes or closely linked genes versus unlinked genes), the level of expression of the trait, the type of inheritance (cytoplasmic or nuclear) and the types of parents included in the cross. It is understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that for single gene traits that are relatively easy to classify, the backcross method is effective and relatively easy to manage. Desired traits that may be transferred through backcross conversion include, but are not limited to, sterility (nuclear and cytoplasmic), fertility restoration, nutritional enhancements, drought tolerance, nitrogen utilization, altered fatty acid profile, low phytate, industrial enhancements, disease resistance or tolerance (bacterial, fungal or viral), insect resistance or tolerance, and herbicide tolerance or resistance. In addition, an introgression site itself, such as an FRT site, Lox site, or other site-specific integration site, may be inserted by backcrossing and utilized for direct insertion of one or more genes of interest into a specific plant variety. A single locus may contain several transgenes, such as a transgene for disease resistance that, in the same expression vector, also contains a transgene for herbicide tolerance or resistance. The gene for herbicide tolerance or resistance may be used as a selectable marker and/or as a phenotypic trait. A single locus conversion of site-specific integration system allows for the integration of multiple genes at the converted loci.

The backcross conversion may result from either the transfer of a dominant allele or a recessive allele. Selection of progeny containing the trait of interest is accomplished by direct selection for a trait associated with a dominant allele. Transgenes transferred via backcrossing typically function as a dominant single gene trait and are relatively easy to classify. Selection of progeny for a trait that is transferred via a recessive allele requires growing and selling the first backcross generation to determine which plants carry the recessive alleles. Recessive traits may require additional progeny testing in successive backcross generations to determine the presence of the locus of interest. The last backcross generation is usually selfed to give pure breeding progeny for the gene(s) being transferred, although a backcross conversion with a stably introgressed trait may also be maintained by further backcrossing to the recurrent parent with selection for the converted trait.

Along with selection for the trait of interest, progeny are selected for the phenotype of the recurrent parent. The backcross is a form of inbreeding, and the features of the recurrent parent are automatically recovered after successive backcrosses. Some sources suggest from one to four or more backcrosses, but as noted above, the number of backcrosses necessary can be reduced with the use of molecular markers. Other factors, such as a genetically similar donor parent, may also reduce the number of backcrosses necessary.

One process for adding or modifying a trait or locus in wheat variety HAW12-156 comprises crossing HAW12-156 plants grown from HAW12-156 seed with plants of another wheat cultivar that comprise the desired trait or locus, selecting F₁ progeny plants that comprise the desired trait or locus to produce selected F₁ progeny plants, crossing the selected progeny plants with the HAW12-156 plants to produce backcross progeny plants, selecting for backcross progeny plants that have the desired trait or locus and the morphological characteristics of wheat variety HAW12-156 to produce selected backcross progeny plants, and backcrossing to HAW12-156 three or more times in succession to produce selected fourth or higher backcross progeny plants that comprise said trait or locus. The modified HAW12-156 may be further characterized as having essentially all of the morphological and physiological characteristics of wheat variety HAW12-156 listed in the tables herein, as determined at the 5% significance level when grown in the same environmental conditions and/or may be characterized by percent similarity or identity to HAW12-156 as determined by SSR markers. The above method may be utilized with fewer backcrosses in appropriate situations, such as when the donor parent is highly related or markers are used in the selection step. Desired nucleic acids that may be used include those nucleic acids known in the art, some of which are listed herein, that will affect traits through nucleic acid expression or inhibition. Desired loci include the introgression of FRT, Lox, and other sites for site specific integration, which may also affect a desired trait if a functional nucleic acid is inserted at the integration site.

In addition, the above process and other similar processes described herein may be used to produce first generation progeny wheat seed by adding a step at the end of the process that comprises crossing HAW12-156 with the introgressed trait or locus with a different wheat plant and harvesting the resultant first generation progeny wheat seed.

A further embodiment relates to a back-cross conversion of wheat cultivar HAW12-156. A backcross conversion occurs when DNA sequences are introduced through traditional (non-transformation) breeding techniques, such as backcrossing. DNA sequences, whether naturally occurring or transgenes, may be introduced using these traditional breeding techniques. Desired traits transferred through this process include, but are not limited to nutritional enhancements, industrial enhancements, disease resistance or tolerance, insect resistance or tolerance, herbicide tolerance or resistance, agronomic enhancements, grain quality enhancement, waxy starch, breeding enhancements, seed production enhancements, and male sterility. Descriptions of some of the cytoplasmic male sterility genes, nuclear male sterility genes, chemical hybridizing agents, male fertility restoration genes, and methods of using the aforementioned are known. Examples of genes for other traits include: Leaf rust resistance genes (Lr series such as Lr1, Lr10, Lr21, Lr22, Lr22a, Lr32, Lr37, Lr41, Lr42, and Lr43), Fusarium head blight-resistance genes (QFhs.ndsu-3B and QFhs.ndsu-2A), powdery mildew resistance genes (Pm21), common bunt resistance genes (Bt-10), and wheat streak mosaic virus resistance gene (Wsm1), Russian wheat aphid resistance genes (Dn series such as Dn1, Dn2, Dn4, and Dn5), Black stem rust resistance genes (Sr38), Yellow rust resistance genes (Yr series such as Yr 1, YrSD, Yrsu, Yr17, Yr15, and YrH52), aluminum tolerance genes (Alt(BH)), dwarf genes (Rht), vernalization genes (Vrn), Hessian fly resistance genes (H9, H10, H21, and H29), grain color genes (R/r), glyphosate resistance genes (EPSPS), glufosinate genes (bar, pat), water stress tolerance genes (Hva 1 and mt1D), genes for improving the high amylose starch content such as mutants of SBEI and SBEII genes as disclosed for example in WO2013063653. The trait of interest is transferred from the donor parent to the recurrent parent, which in this case is the wheat plant disclosed herein, HAW12-156. Single gene traits may result from either the transfer of a dominant allele or a recessive allele. Selection of progeny containing the trait of interest is done by direct selection for a trait associated with a dominant allele. Selection of progeny for a trait that is transferred via a recessive allele requires growing and selfing the first backcross to determine which plants carry the recessive alleles. Recessive traits may require additional progeny testing in successive backcross generations to determine the presence of the gene of interest.

Using HAW12-156 to Develop Other Wheat Varieties

Wheat varieties such as HAW12-156 are typically developed for use in seed and grain production. However, wheat varieties such as HAW12-156 also provide a source of breeding material that may be used to develop new wheat varieties. Plant breeding techniques known in the art and used in a wheat plant breeding program include, but are not limited to, recurrent selection, mass selection, bulk selection, mass selection, backcrossing, pedigree breeding, open pollination breeding, restriction fragment length polymorphism enhanced selection, genetic marker enhanced selection, making double haploids, mutation breeding, wherein the mutation selected for is spontaneous or artificially induced, and transformation. Often, combinations of these techniques are used. The development of wheat varieties in a plant breeding program requires, in general, the development and evaluation of homozygous varieties. There are many analytical methods available to evaluate a new variety. The oldest and most traditional method of analysis is the observation of phenotypic traits but genotypic analysis may also be used.

Additional Breeding Methods

One embodiment is directed to methods for producing a wheat plant by crossing a first parent wheat plant with a second parent wheat plant wherein either the first or second parent wheat plant is cultivar HAW12-156. The other parent may be any other wheat plant, such as a wheat plant that is part of a synthetic or natural population. Any such methods using wheat cultivar HAW12-156 are part of the embodiments: selfing, sibbing, backcrosses, mass selection, pedigree breeding, bulk selection, hybrid production, and crosses to populations. These methods are well known in the art and some of the more commonly used breeding methods are described below.

The following describes breeding methods that may be used with wheat variety HAW12-156 in the development of further wheat plants. One such embodiment is a method for developing a cultivar HAW12-156 progeny wheat plant in a wheat plant breeding program comprising: obtaining the wheat plant, or a part thereof, of cultivar HAW12-156 utilizing said plant or plant part as a source of breeding material and selecting a wheat variety HAW12-156 progeny plant with molecular markers in common with variety HAW12-156 and/or with morphological and/or physiological characteristics selected from the characteristics listed in the Tables herein. Breeding steps that may be used in the wheat plant breeding program include pedigree breeding, backcrossing, mutation breeding, and recurrent selection. In conjunction with these steps, techniques such as RFLP-enhanced selection, genetic marker enhanced selection (e.g., SSR markers) and the making of double haploids may be utilized.

Another method involves producing a population of wheat variety HAW12-156 progeny wheat plants, comprising crossing cultivar HAW12-156 with another wheat plant, thereby producing a population of wheat plants, which, on average, derive 50% of their alleles from wheat variety HAW12-156. A plant of this population may be selected and repeatedly selfed or sibbed with a wheat cultivar resulting from these successive filial generations. One embodiment is the wheat cultivar produced by this method and that has obtained at least 50% of its alleles from wheat variety HAW12-156.

One of ordinary skill in the art of plant breeding would know how to evaluate the traits of two plant varieties to determine if there is no significant difference between the two traits expressed by those varieties. Thus, the embodiments include wheat variety HAW12-156 progeny wheat plants comprising a combination of at least two variety HAW12-156 traits selected from the group consisting of those listed in the Tables herein, so that said progeny wheat plant is not significantly different for said traits than wheat variety HAW12-156. Using techniques described herein, molecular markers may be used to identify said progeny plant as a wheat variety HAW12-156 progeny plant. Mean trait values may be used to determine whether trait differences are significant, and the traits may be measured on plants grown under the same environmental conditions. Once such a variety is developed its value is substantial, as it is important to advance the germplasm base as a whole in order to maintain or improve traits such as yield, disease resistance or tolerance, pest resistance or tolerance, and plant performance in extreme environmental conditions.

Progeny of wheat variety HAW12-156 may also be characterized through their filial relationship with wheat variety HAW12-156, as for example, being within a certain number of breeding crosses of wheat variety HAW12-156. A breeding cross is a cross made to introduce new genetics into the progeny, and is distinguished from a cross, such as a self or a sib cross, made to select among existing genetic alleles. The lower the number of breeding crosses in the pedigree, the closer the relationship between wheat variety HAW12-156 and its progeny. For example, progeny produced by the methods described herein may be within 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 breeding crosses of wheat variety HAW12-156.

Pedigree Breeding

Pedigree breeding starts with the crossing of two genotypes, such as HAW12-156 and another wheat variety having one or more desirable characteristics that is lacking or which complements HAW12-156. If the two original parents do not provide all the desired characteristics, other sources can be included in the breeding population. In the pedigree method, superior plants are selfed and selected in successive filial generations. In the succeeding filial generations, the heterozygous condition gives way to homogeneous varieties as a result of self-pollination and selection. Typically, in the pedigree method of breeding, five or more successive filial generations of selfing and selection is practiced: F₁ to F₂; F₂ to F₃; F₃ to F₄; F₄ to F₅, etc. After a sufficient amount of inbreeding, successive filial generations will serve to increase seed of the developed variety. In an embodiment, the developed variety comprises homozygous alleles at about 95% or more of its loci.

In addition to being used to create a backcross conversion, backcrossing can also be used in combination with pedigree breeding. As discussed previously, backcrossing can be used to transfer one or more specifically desirable traits from one variety, the donor parent, to a developed variety called the recurrent parent, which has overall good agronomic characteristics yet lacks that desirable trait or traits. However, the same procedure can be used to move the progeny toward the genotype of the recurrent parent but at the same time retain many components of the non-recurrent parent by stopping the backcrossing at an early stage and proceeding with selling and selection. For example, a wheat variety may be crossed with another variety to produce a first-generation progeny plant. The first-generation progeny plant may then be backcrossed to one of its parent varieties to create a BC1 or BC2. Progeny are selfed and selected so that the newly developed variety has many of the attributes of the recurrent parent and yet several of the desired attributes of the non-recurrent parent. This approach leverages the value and strengths of the recurrent parent for use in new wheat varieties.

Therefore, another embodiment is a method of making a backcross conversion of wheat variety HAW12-156 comprising the steps of crossing a plant of wheat variety HAW12-156 with a donor plant comprising a desired trait, selecting an F₁ progeny plant comprising the desired trait, and backcrossing the selected F₁ progeny plant to a plant of wheat variety HAW12-156. This method may further comprise the step of obtaining a molecular marker profile of wheat variety HAW12-156 and using the molecular marker profile to select for a progeny plant with the desired trait and the molecular marker profile of HAW12-156. In one embodiment, the desired trait is a mutant gene or transgene present in the donor parent.

Recurrent Selection and Mass Selection

Recurrent selection is a method used in a plant breeding program to improve a population of plants. HAW12-156 is suitable for use in a recurrent selection program. The method entails individual plants cross pollinating with each other to form progeny. The progeny are grown and the superior progeny selected by any number of selection methods, which include individual plant, half-sib progeny, full-sib progeny and selfed progeny. The selected progeny are cross pollinated with each other to form progeny for another population. This population is planted and again superior plants are selected to cross pollinate with each other. Recurrent selection is a cyclical process and therefore can be repeated as many times as desired. The objective of recurrent selection is to improve the traits of a population. The improved population can then be used as a source of breeding material to obtain new varieties for commercial or breeding use, including the production of a synthetic cultivar. A synthetic cultivar is the resultant progeny formed by the intercrossing of several selected varieties.

Mass selection is a useful technique when used in conjunction with molecular marker enhanced selection. In mass selection, seeds from individuals are selected based on phenotype or genotype. These selected seeds are then bulked and used to grow the next generation. Bulk selection requires growing a population of plants in a bulk plot, allowing the plants to self-pollinate, harvesting the seed in bulk and then using a sample of the seed harvested in bulk to plant the next generation. Also, instead of self-pollination, directed pollination could be used as part of the breeding program.

Mutation Breeding

Mutation breeding is another method of introducing new traits into wheat variety HAW12-156. Mutations that occur spontaneously or are artificially induced can be useful sources of variability for a plant breeder. The goal of artificial mutagenesis is to increase the rate of mutation for a desired characteristic. Mutation rates can be increased by many different means including temperature, long-term seed storage, tissue culture conditions, radiation, such as X-rays, Gamma rays (e.g. cobalt 60 or cesium 137), neutrons, (product of nuclear fission by uranium 235 in an atomic reactor), Beta radiation (emitted from radioisotopes such as phosphorus 32 or carbon 14), or ultraviolet radiation (optionally from 2500 to 2900 nm), or chemical mutagens (such as base analogues (5-bromo-uracil), related compounds (8-ethoxy caffeine), antibiotics (streptonigrin), alkylating agents (sulfur mustards, nitrogen mustards, epoxides, ethylenamines, sulfates, sulfonates, sulfones, lactones), azide, hydroxylamine, nitrous acid, or acridines. Once a desired trait is observed through mutagenesis the trait may then be incorporated into existing germplasm by traditional breeding techniques. In addition, mutations created in other wheat plants may be used to produce a backcross conversion of wheat variety HAW12-156 that comprises such mutation. Further embodiments are the treatment of HAW12-156 with a mutagen and the plant produced by mutagenesis of HAW12-156.

Gene Editing Using CRISPR

Targeted gene editing can be done using CRISPR/Cas9 technology (Saunders & Joung, Nature Biotechnology, 32, 347-355, 2014). CRISPR is a type of genome editing system that stands for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats. This system and CRISPR-associated (Cas) genes enable organisms, such as select bacteria and archaea, to respond to and eliminate invading genetic material. Ishino, Y., et al. J. Bacteriol. 169, 5429-5433 (1987). These repeats were known as early as the 1980s in E. coli, but Barrangou and colleagues demonstrated that S. thermophilus can acquire resistance against a bacteriophage by integrating a fragment of a genome of an infectious virus into its CRISPR locus. Barrangou, R., et al. Science 315, 1709-1712 (2007). Many plants have already been modified using the CRISPR system. See for example, U.S. Application Publication No. WO2014068346 (Gyorgy et al., Identification of a Xanthomonas euvesicatoria resistance gene from pepper (Capsicum annuum) and method for generating plants with resistance); Martinelli, F. et al., “Proposal of a Genome Editing System for Genetic Resistance to Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus” American Journal of Applied Sciences 2014; Noman, A. et al., “CRISPR-Cas9: Tool for Qualitative and Quantitative Plant Genome Editing” Frontiers in Plant Science Vol. 7 Nov. 2016; and “Exploiting the CRISPR/Cas9 System for Targeted Genome Mutagenesis in Petunia” Science Reports Volume 6: February 2016.

Gene editing can also be done using crRNA-guided surveillance systems for gene editing. Additional information about crRNA-guided surveillance complex systems for gene editing can be found in the following documents, which are incorporated by reference in their entirety: U.S. Application Publication No. 2010/0076057 (Sontheimer et al., Target DNA Interference with crRNA); U.S. Application Publication No. 2014/0179006 (Feng, CRISPR-CAS Component Systems, Methods, and Compositions for Sequence Manipulation); U.S. Application Publication No. 2014/0294773 (Brouns et al., Modified Cascade Ribonucleoproteins and Uses Thereof); Sorek et al., Annu. Rev. Biochem. 82:273-266, 2013; and Wang, S. et al., Plant Cell Rep (2015) 34: 1473-1476. Therefore, it is another embodiment to use the CRISPR system on wheat variety HAW12-156 to modify traits and resistances or tolerances to pests, herbicides, diseases, and viruses.

Breeding with Molecular Markers

Molecular markers, which include markers identified through the use of techniques such as Isozyme Electrophoresis, Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms (RFLPs), Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), Arbitrarily Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR), DNA Amplification Fingerprinting (DAF), Sequence Characterized Amplified Regions (SCARs), Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLPs), Simple Sequence Repeats (SSRs) and Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs), may be used in plant breeding methods utilizing wheat variety HAW12-156. Isozyme Electrophoresis and RFLPs have been widely used to determine genetic composition.

SSR technology is currently the most efficient and practical marker technology; more marker loci can be routinely used and more alleles per marker locus can be found using SSRs in comparison to RFLPs. Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) may also be used to identify the unique genetic composition of the embodiments and progeny varieties retaining that unique genetic composition. Various molecular marker techniques may be used in combination to enhance overall resolution. Wheat DNA molecular marker linkage maps have been rapidly constructed and widely implemented in genetic studies.

One use of molecular markers is QTL mapping. QTL mapping is the use of markers which are known to be closely linked to alleles that have measurable effects on a quantitative trait. Selection in the breeding process is based upon the accumulation of markers linked to the positive effecting alleles and/or the elimination of the markers linked to the negative effecting alleles from the plant's genome.

Molecular markers can also be used during the breeding process for the selection of qualitative traits. For example, markers closely linked to alleles or markers containing sequences within the actual alleles of interest can be used to select plants that contain the alleles of interest during a backcrossing breeding program. The markers can also be used to select for the genome of the recurrent parent and against the genome of the donor parent. Using this procedure can minimize the amount of genome from the donor parent that remains in the selected plants. It can also be used to reduce the number of crosses back to the recurrent parent needed in a backcrossing program. The use of molecular markers in the selection process is often called genetic marker enhanced selection. Molecular markers may also be used to identify and exclude certain sources of germplasm as parental varieties or ancestors of a plant by providing a means of tracking genetic profiles through crosses.

Production of Double Haploids

The production of double haploids can also be used for the development of plants with a homozygous phenotype in the breeding program. For example, a wheat plant for which wheat variety HAW12-156 is a parent can be used to produce double haploid plants. Double haploids are produced by the doubling of a set of chromosomes (1N) from a heterozygous plant to produce a completely homozygous individual. This can be advantageous because the process omits the generations of selfing needed to obtain a homozygous plant from a heterozygous source.

Haploid induction systems have been developed for various plants to produce haploid tissues, plants and seeds. The haploid induction system can produce haploid plants from any genotype by crossing a selected line (as female) with an inducer line. Methods for obtaining haploid plants have also been disclosed in the art.

Thus, another embodiment is a process for making a substantially homozygous HAW12-156 progeny plant by producing or obtaining a seed from the cross of HAW12-156 and another wheat plant and applying double haploid methods to the F₁ seed or F₁ plant, or to any successive filial generation. Based on studies in the art, such methods would decrease the number of generations required to produce a variety with similar genetics or characteristics to HAW12-156.

In another embodiment, a process of making seed retaining the molecular marker profile of wheat cultivar HAW12-156 is contemplated, such process comprising obtaining or producing F₁ seed for which wheat variety HAW12-156 is a parent, inducing doubled haploids to create progeny without the occurrence of meiotic segregation, obtaining the molecular marker profile of wheat variety HAW12-156, and selecting progeny that retain the molecular marker profile of HAW12-156. Descriptions of other breeding methods that are commonly used for different traits and crops are known.

Further reproduction of the variety can occur by tissue culture and regeneration. Tissue culture of various tissues of wheat and regeneration of plants therefrom is well known and widely published. Thus, another aspect is to provide cells which upon growth and differentiation produce wheat plants having essentially all of the morphological and physiological characteristics of wheat variety HAW12-156. Means for preparing and maintaining plant tissue culture are well known in the art. By way of example, a tissue culture comprising organs has been used to produce regenerated plants.

While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations thereof. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims and claims hereafter introduced are interpreted to include all such modifications, permutations, additions, and sub-combinations as are within their true spirit and scope.

One embodiment may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

Various embodiments, include components, methods, processes, systems and/or apparatus substantially as depicted and described herein, including various embodiments, sub-combinations, and subsets thereof. Those of skill in the art will understand how to make and use an embodiment(s) after understanding the present disclosure.

The foregoing discussion of the embodiments has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. The foregoing is not intended to limit the embodiments to the form or forms disclosed herein. In the foregoing Detailed Description and Further Embodiments for example, various features of the embodiments are grouped together in one or more embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the embodiment(s) requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment.

Moreover, though the description of the embodiments has included description of one or more embodiments and certain variations and modifications, other variations and modifications are within the scope of the embodiments (e.g., as may be within the skill and knowledge of those in the art, after understanding the present disclosure). It is intended to obtain rights which include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted, including alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges or acts to those claimed, whether or not such alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges or acts are disclosed herein, and without intending to publicly dedicate any patentable subject matter.

The use of the terms “a,” “an,” and “the,” and similar referents in the context of describing the embodiments (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. For example, if the range 10-15 is disclosed, then 11, 12, 13, and 14 are also disclosed. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the embodiments and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the embodiments unless otherwise claimed.

DEPOSIT INFORMATION

A deposit of the Arista Cereal Technologies PTY LTD proprietary wheat variety HAW12-156 disclosed above and recited in the appended claims has been made with the National Collections of Industrial, Food and Marine Bacteria (NCIMB), Ferguson Building, Craibstone Estate, Bucksburn, Aberdeen, AB21 9YA, Scotland, United Kingdom. The date of deposit was Jan. 29, 2020. The NCIMB No. is 43563. The deposit of 2,500 seeds was taken from the same deposit maintained by Arista Cereal Technologies PTY LTD since prior to the filing date of this application. The deposit will be maintained in the NCIMB depository for a period of 30 years, or 5 years after the most recent request, or for the enforceable life of the patent, whichever is longer, and will be replaced if necessary, during that period. Upon issuance, all restrictions on the availability to the public of the deposit will be irrevocably removed consistent with all of the requirements of 37 C.F.R. §§ 1.801-1.809. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A plant of wheat variety HAW12-156, wherein a representative sample of seed of said variety has been deposited under NCIMB No.
 43563. 2. A plant part of the plant of claim 1, wherein the plant part comprises at least one cell of said plant.
 3. The plant part of claim 2, further defined as head, awn, leaf, root, root tip, pistil, anther, pollen, ovule, embryo, glume, floret, awn, lemma, shoot, petiole, cotyledon, hypocotyl, meristematic cell, root, root tip, pistil, anther, floret, seed, pericarp, spike, stem, and callus.
 4. A tissue culture produced from the plant part of claim
 2. 5. A wheat plant regenerated from the tissue culture of claim 4, wherein said plant has all of the physiological and morphological characteristics of wheat variety HAW12-156.
 6. A seed of wheat variety HAW12-156, wherein a representative sample of seed of said variety has been deposited under NCIMB No.
 43563. 7. A method of producing wheat seed, wherein the method comprises crossing the plant of claim 1 with itself or a second wheat plant.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the method is further defined as comprising crossing the plant of wheat variety HAW12-156 with a second, distinct wheat plant to produce an F₁ hybrid wheat seed.
 9. An F₁ hybrid wheat seed produced by the method of claim
 8. 10. An F₁ hybrid wheat plant produced by growing the seed of claim
 9. 11. A method of producing wheat seed, wherein the method comprises self-pollinating the wheat plant of claim 1 and harvesting the resultant wheat seed.
 12. A wheat seed produced by the method of claim
 11. 13. A composition comprising the seed of claim 6 comprised in plant seed growth media, wherein a representative sample of seed of said variety has been deposited under NCIMB No.
 43563. 14. A plant of wheat variety HAW12-156, further comprising a single locus conversion, wherein a representative sample of seed of wheat variety HAW12-156 has been deposited under NCIMB No.
 43563. 15. A seed that produces the plant of claim
 14. 16. The plant of claim 14 wherein the single locus conversion confers said plant with herbicide resistance.
 17. The plant of claim 14, wherein the single locus conversion comprises a transgene.
 18. The plant of claim 14, wherein the single locus conversion is an artificially mutated gene or nucleotide sequence.
 19. The plant of claim 14, wherein the single locus conversion is a gene that has been modified through the use of one or more of the following techniques: gene editing techniques selected from the group comprising, DNA-guided genome editing, zinc finger nuclease technology, oligonucleotide directed mutagenesis, TALENs, engineered meganuclease, re-engineered homing endonucleases, site-directed nuclease technology, and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-associated protein9 (Cas9) system, cisgenesis, intragenesis, targeted introduction of new genes, gene silencing, epigenesis, grafting onto genetically modified rootstock, reverse breeding, agro-infiltration, and mutation breeding, wherein said mutation breeding selects for a mutation that is spontaneous or artificially induced.
 20. The seed of claim 15, wherein the single locus conversion confers a trait selected from the group consisting of male sterility, herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, pest resistance, disease resistance, modified fatty acid metabolism, abiotic stress resistance, altered seed amino acid composition, site-specific genetic recombination, and modified carbohydrate metabolism.
 21. The seed of claim 15, wherein the single locus conversion comprises a gene encoding a Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) endotoxin.
 22. The seed of claim 15, wherein the single locus conversion comprises a transgene.
 23. A method of producing a commodity plant product comprising collecting the commodity plant product from the plant of claim
 1. 24. A wheat commodity plant product produced by the method of claim 23, wherein the commodity plant product comprises at least one cell of wheat variety HAW12-156.
 25. A method of introducing a desired trait into wheat variety HAW12-156 comprising: (a) crossing the wheat variety HAW12-156 plant of claim 1 with another wheat plant that comprises a desired trait to produce F₁ progeny plants; (b) selecting one or more progeny plants that have the desired trait; (c) crossing the selected progeny plants with wheat variety HAW12-156 plants to produce backcross progeny plants; (d) selecting for backcross progeny plants that have the desired trait; and (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) three or more times in succession to produce selected fourth or higher backcross progeny plants that comprise the desired trait and essentially all of the physiological and morphological characteristics of wheat variety HAW12-156 listed in Table 1 when grown in the same environmental conditions.
 26. A method of producing a wheat plant derived from wheat variety HAW12-156, the method comprising crossing the plant of claim 1 with a second wheat plant to produce a progeny plant.
 27. The method of claim 26 further comprising the steps of: crossing the progeny plant derived from wheat variety HAW12-156 with itself or a second wheat plant to produce a seed of progeny plant of subsequent generation; growing the progeny plant of the subsequent generation from the seed; and crossing the progeny plant of the subsequent generation with itself or a second wheat plant to produce a wheat plant derived from the wheat variety HAW12-156. 